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ryqoshay · 2 years

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Unstable World: Attack on Paragon

Flagship: YohaRiko Vanguard Ships: AiRina Words: ~2k Rating: T? Fandom: Love Live Sunshine, Love Live, Love Live Nijigasaki AU: A dimension other than ours Time Frame: ??? Event: step! zero to one! Event Source: Idol Fanfic Heaven channel on Discord Content Warnings: Depictions of War, Fantasy Violence

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Author’s Note: Second chapter posted for today. Be sure to find and read “Temporary Respite” before this chapter.

Summary: The device you found a few days ago pings. When you pick it up, a message displays “Update Downloaded.” Update? The last entry you read was about how their world was preparing to attack their invaders and they were sending out a bunch of archive devices so others could know their history. And you assumed that really was the end of it. The archive was what it was. If the people of that other dimension survived and sent out new archives, it was doubtful one would randomly reach you. But an update? Did they just... send raw data blindly through the void and hope it reached the devices they sent out? Strange. Nonetheless, you are curious, so you find the new file and begin to read.

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“Long live the Empire!” the troops shouted on the flight deck of the Hinome.

Yoshiko glanced at Riko, her eyes seeming to ask for one more shot of reassurance. Though she had just given another rousing speech to her battalion, she remained a little uncertain about some things. Her hair was still white, her eyes still gold, and her body still warmer, but at least she was no longer increasing the temperature for meters around herself.

But as far as Riko was concerned, and as she had told her wife multiple times, Yoshiko was still very much Yoshiko. Thus, Riko smiled and nodded.

Yoshiko shifted her shoulders to summon her wings, which were larger than before and pure white. Next, she forged the… light? energies within her into her favored weapon, a sizable scythe, no longer metallic black, but glistening white. Finally, as always, she spun the weapon in a grandiose display and finished with a dramatic pose.

It was no surprise to Riko that Yohane’s Little Demons cheered as loud as ever. But what pleased her more was the genuine smile Yoshiko displayed as she realized she had retained her troop’s respect and honor. Although based on the events of the last battle, and the last several weeks, Riko suspected her emperor had earned even more adoration than ever before.

“Alright, Prelude, let’s get ready as well.” Riko said to her companion.

“Aye ma’am.” The dog replied before beginning her transformation into her newly upgraded mech form.

Yoshiko reached to her ear and changed her communication channel to global. “Everyone ready?”

A chorus of affirmations filled the channel; Nishikino, Konoe, Ayase, Takami, Kazuno, and many others. The military forces of the world, though scatted across the globe to defend strategic locations from a counterattack, all stood ready to attack a single target, the dimensional coordinates from which the Paragon had attacked last.

The device found by the Imperial Ocean Floor Scavenging Fleet had been turned over to the URS for examination, though the Empire’s Hanamaru and the Kingdom’s Kotori were invited to collaborate. Nearly two weeks later, Rina’s team produced thousands of devices to open rifts leading to the Paragon homeworld.

It took another week for Yoshiko to convince Queen Yazawa, President Uehara, and a few other world leaders to join her in a combined attack. No longer did they need to stay on perpetual defense, their resources and populations whittling away in the war of attrition. It was time to take the fight to the Paragon themselves.

“Standby for my mark.” Yoshiko ordered before flapping her wings to take off. She turned her head and… “Eh? Riri?!” She scrambled to switch her comm back to the local channel.

“I’m coming with you.” Riko stated as she flew alongside her wife.

“B-but it’s just a quick recon to assess the enemy strength before we deploy the bulk of our fleets.” Yoshiko insisted.

“I’m coming with you.” Riko repeated, firmer than before.

The couple began to hover a hundred meters or so ahead of the Hinome and Yoshiko pulled out the rift controller.

Suddenly, a dozen URS sky fighters blinked into existence around them.

“We’re also going.” Setsuna stated.

“Well, Setsu and Ai-san at least.” Ai corrected. “The rest can wait for the attack orders.”

“You’ve already recovered?” Yoshiko questioned the squadron leader.

“I was pretty much recovered shortly after Phobetor-san dropped me off on the Datenshi, because one of your alchemists gave me an amazing potion.” Setsuna grinned. “I was about to borrow a mech and rejoin the battle, but you ended up finishing it too quickly.”

“… Sorry?”

Setsuna shook her head. “That wasn’t what I meant. I loved watching you fight; it really was a miracle to behold.” She paused for half a second. “As amazing as Ohara-san’s new weapon was, I wonder if your new battle form deserves the title more?”

“… I’m… not sure?”

“Anyway, the Empire’s healing potions really are something else. I’m coming to you guys next time I get banged up in battle.”

“Say, speaking of the Datenshi,” Ai spoke up “you guys did some heavy rework on her.”

“Sadly, we had to scrap the Datenshi, after Chika decided to use it to protect some of the other ships from those stupid tentacles.” Yoshiko admitted while Riko decided not to correct the term to arm. “Anyway, the Hinome is our new flagship now.”

“It matches your armor.”

“Yeah…” Yoshiko glanced down at the gold painted leather with white trimmings. “You designed it and Zuramaru made it… and Riri convinced me to wear it…”

“Well Ai-san, for one, loves it.” Ai grinned.

“Two with me.” Setsuna added.

“Thanks.” Yoshiko smiled.

Part of Riko wanted to say I told you so to her wife, but she simply smiled as well.

“Wait!” A voice called over the comm. “We’re coming too! We’re almost to your location.”

Riko turned to see a flight of dragons approaching, backed by a Μνήμη airship that could pass as the Jardin de Verre.

“The recon crew just keeps getting bigger…” Yoshiko sighed. “And let me guess…” She looked up.

“Ahaha! You found me!” Mari laughed as she dropped from above. “<Surprised?>”

“Not in the slightest.” Yoshiko responded. “Is that everyone? Is the recon squad big enough now? I hope so ‘cause I’m opening the rift.”

Riko felt her pulse quicken in anticipation, both of the upcoming battle as well as seeing a different world. The rift between dimensions opened and the recon crew followed Yoshiko through. Unconsciously, Riko held her breath, until…

“This…” Yohshiko breathed. “This isn’t the Paragon homeworld.”

“How do you know?” Honoka asked.

“I’ve been there, remember?”

“Oh, right… sorry…”

Riko scanned the barren landscape before them and knew her wife was telling the truth. This was nothing like the world Yoshiko had described; no structures anywhere to be seen, no bustling activity from millions, if not billions of Paragon. The world they had stepped into was nothing but rock, oh, and water behind them.

“So, if this isn’t their homeworld…” Setsuna thought aloud “What is it?”

As Riko continued examining the area, she began to notice small markings in the stone.

“What is it, Riri?” Yoshiko asked as Riko flipped down her lens.

“This is just a theory,” Riko started “but, based on the markings I’m seeing, I think this is a staging ground."

"I believe you are correct." A new voice stated from behind everyone.

“Rinari!” Ai greeted joyously, flying over to glomp her wife. “When did you get here?”

“Just now.” The Chief of the URS Army Corps of Engineers replied. “I came as soon as it was confirmed this was not the Paragon homeworld. I have recovered additional data from the device and wished to confirm it.”

“Confirm what?” Yoshiko pressed.

“That this entire planet is a staging ground for the Paragon’s invasions of other worlds.”

“So, what, after they killed or enslaved everyone here and stripped all of the usable resources, they just… use the remaining husk as a platform to prepare attacks?”

“I believe that to be the case.”

“So… if they come here from their homeworld, can we get there from here?”

“I do not know.”

Yoshiko let out a frustrated sound.

“I need more information. That is why I am here.”

“Uhm guys…” Honoka spoke up. “We’ve got incoming.”

Sure enough, hundreds of rifts were opening all around the area. A second later, ships and troops began to pour out.

“<Here we go!>” Mari cried, opening fire.

“All air fleets! Attack!” Yoshiko ordered while those around her began to engage. “Rina, send the appropriate coordinates to our surface fleets and ground forces.” She pointed to the sea behind her and the land in front of her as she mentioned each type of force. “You, Dia, you’re good to go once you’ve received the corrected data. Same goes for everyone else!”

More rifts appeared, but these ones allowed the combined forces of the Empire, Kingdom, States and whatever other nations had offered support to enter the battlefield. In seconds, the all too familiar din of battle filled the area.

“Setsu!” Ai called to her leader. “I’m going to hang back to help Rinari. You go on ahead. We’ll call it your win for our kill count contest this time.”

Setsuna shook her head. “The two of us can defend Rina-san that much easier together. I’ll stay back as well.”

Ai grinned in response.

“You guys are under Yohane-sama’s command for now.” Setsuna told the rest of her squadron before following Ai and Rina to the ground.

“Alright everyone, you know the drill.” Yoshiko said to those around her. “Do not let a single Paragon reach our rifts. And keep an eye out for any giant squid tentacles.”

With that said, Yoshiko fanned out a set of burning white daggers and sent them toward the enemy. Phobetor charged into a Paragon soldier and nearly swallowed it whole. Riko unleashed her whip sword and lasers. Mari fired her usual eclectic variety of munitions from her mech. And Honoka directed explosive blasts, Umi lightning, and Rin scalding sea water from their respective dragons.

Moments later, the big guns arrived and ships both on the water and in the air began to shell the enemy ranks. Eventually, the ground troops were able to set up their mobile cannons and joined the barrage.

As with all battles in which Riko had fought, minutes seemed simultaneously like hours and seconds. With every foe she felled, it seemed two more emerged from the rifts. And eventually, she began to wonder if their forces would be overwhelmed.

Until she realized that no new enemies had entered the battlefield for a while. How long of a while? She didn’t bother to check her chronometer. But the enemy ranks were definitely diminishing.

“Hey, are they retreating?” Honoka suddenly asked.

“I think you’re right.” Yoshiko replied.

“Tsushima-sama.” Rina’s voice came over the comm.

“Yes, Rina.” Yohsiko replied.

“I have located a terminal and have gained access.”

“You can read the Paragon language?”

“No. Hanamaru-chan gave me a translation device she built with Kotori-san.”

“I see. Can you get us to the Paragon homeworld?”

“No. The Paragon have activated a self-destruct mechanism.”

“For what… this staging area? There’s like nothing here.”

“It is for the planet.”

“Wha…”

“We have five minutes.”

“Everyone!” Yoshiko shouted. “You heard Rina! Retreat! Back through the rifts! Now! Anyone able to carry ground troops, do so. Leave any slow-moving vehicles if necessary. Leave the artillery too, we can always make more. I want to see everyone back home in three minutes!”

As she gave her orders, Yoshiko dove down, grabbed a pair of straggling soldiers, and teleported them to the nearest rift. Riko and Phobetor immediately followed suit, though were a little slower as they lacked their emperor’s teleportation. Within seconds, every airborne troop was carrying at least two soldiers.

Two minutes later, Yoshiko was scanning the area to make sure everyone had made it through. Once satisfied, she was the last to escape and closed the rift behind her.

“So,” Yoshiko started, as she and those around her made their way toward the Hinome “did we at least prevent the Paragon from invading us anymore?”

“Technically, no.” Rina replied.

“Technically?”

“The world they just destroyed was one of many.”

Yoshiko released a frustrated growl.

“However, though I was unable to stop the self-destruction program, I was able to duplicate it, and send it to all other staging planets that were linked to our dimension.”

“Wow, way to go, Rinari!” Ai cheered.

“As well as several others for good measure.”

“Well done.” Yoshiko said. “Thank you, Rina. It seems you’ve dealt the biggest blow to the Paragon out of all of us.”

“We should celebrate!” Ai suggested.

“Absolutely!”

“Unfortunately, I do not believe the Paragon threat is over.” Rina stated solemnly.

“Awww…” Yoshiko whined.

“It may be days, weeks, possibly even years before they establish new staging grounds, but the data I’ve collected suggests they will. They will return eventually.”

“Well, I say we still celebrate the peace we’ve got while we have it.” Yoshiko decided.

“First round is on me!” Mari declared, earning cheers from the troops around her.

Riko smiled as she listened to her allies continue to talk and looked forward to a night of festivities the likes of which few alive today may have witnessed. Perhaps, for the first time in their lives, everyone could find a moment of stability in this unstable world.

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Author’s Note Continued: So there we go, the core story of Unstable World. However, while writing this, I came up with a ton of other ideas that I would never have been able to fit within my chosen 10(+2)k word count limit. Although even if I had chosen the 20(+4)k tier, I remain uncertain if what I have currently could have reached that goal, and if I would have had time to write it.

That said, I do fully intend to write at least some of these ideas at some point, as well as an arc I’ve had planned for a while that was actually supposed to be the introduction of this AU. But plans change, I guess. Heck, I was also intending to introduce Yohane’s “bionically accurate” battle form in a completely different story, but I stalled out on that and have been slowly pecking away at it where I can. So spoilers for that, I guess?

Finally, per the intent of the event, this core story will remain its own thing. Everything else I write for this AU will take place either in different points along the timeline, or be from different character/faction perspectives. I will not directly add to this core story in such a way that the new stuff will be required reading to understand the original story. All new chapters will be in their own separate collection, much like PoH-PP or MA-FH, and will serve the purpose of supplementing and enriching the AU.

#YohaRiko #Sakurauchi Riko #Tsushima Yohane #Unstable World #step! zero to one!#Love Live Sunshine #fanfic #YoshiRiko #YohaRiri #Tsushima Yoshiko

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suja-janee · 3 months

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Bireena request: 2/5 (request from anonymous)

Uhh slight boobie warning under the cut vvv

The titan versions get along a little TOO well hehehehehehehhehehe

#sus tag #bireena #bi han x sareena #sareena x bi han #bi Han #sareena #mk1 #mortal kombat 1 #titan bi han #sub zero #mortal kombat mythologies #so yeah I don’t think bi Han can sing really #big bro needs some cough drops first #I’ve heard someone ai generate him singing and it almost cause me permanent damage 💀#I don’t think he can dance either since he seems to be more focused on physical strength than gymnastics unlike Kuai Liang #but I think titan bi Han is nice enough that he’d make an attempt for Sareena #he’s just built different #a good guy..l well I mean not perfect I’m sure his kill count is just as bad as regular bi Han #but I think he took steps to ensure he’d be a better person #headcanon- Sareena is dead in his universe along with many of his loved ones so he has survivors guilt #which led him to becoming a better person #basically living his life they way he thought they’d want him to #for Sareena.. bi Han is dead in her universe so seeing this one nearly broke her heart again but she saw the significant improvement #she probably became the way she is because she got sick of people losing themselves to temptation on evil #so she’s probably got the same motives as Ashrah #also she’s got a daughter from her bi Han before he died #so it came as a shock when titan bi Han met the lil one #BUT ANY WAY THIS IS ALL NONSENSE #imma stop rambling for now #my art

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jojotier · 2 months

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Thinking about a dunmesh stuck au but not even like the plot or anything im just thinking of how insane it must look to the island lord when an adventuring party of 12- including an ogre of wild strength, a werecat beastman, 2 piscine demihumans with expensive tastes, an elf with a chainsaw, a gnome who seems to actively resent how attune to spirits he is, a spirit-attuned tallman obsessed with collecting monster bones, a kobold clown bard, etc- all headed by a single foulmouthed extremely loud half foot who they all are completely loyal to somehow. everyones placing bets on how long until a power struggle destroys the party meanwhile if anything happened to karkat the other 11 would kill Everyone In The Dungeon And Then Each Other

#homestuck #dungeon meshi #the brainrot decrees rhat i must combine my interests At All Times #admittedly not sure what to do with kanaya vriska terezi or tavros #well. actually tav woild probs be another gnome #whereas i could go in any direction for vriska bc no matter what its funny #half foot vriska? this lord of the dungeon to be can be punted in one easy step!#elf? actually no thatd feed her ego too much #tallman vriska? in this fantastical setting of wonder and whimsy she is just Some Guy #ZERO ideas about terezi tho #karkat vantas

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taxi-boi · 2 months

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guys i think ive solved all of shipping

(click for full resolution)

if only there was a joke to be made between apples and corporate tech giants

obligatory alt ending:

side by side with the original

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tj-crochets · 27 days

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Next baby quilt top is done!

Not my usual color scheme or pattern or…anything, really, but it’s Georgia Bulldog colors for a charity fundraiser rally thing run by a relative of a relative and that’s what they wanted so it’s what I’m making

#sewing wip #sports! I don’t know them #but the options were this or motorcycles and there was ZERO motorcycle fabric at the store #hmmmm I wonder if I could piece the back from the remnants #I don’t think so. I think I cut it wrong for that #but maybe!#maybe I’ll just go black fuzzy fabric for the backing #wait yeah I think I have some remnants bin black faux sherpa that might be big enough #wait no it’d have to be over a yard. hm.#anyway: quilt progress! one step closer to an isopod!#the relative in question is like…my half-cousin’s step-mother-in-law when it comes to degree of closeness #like. i don’t think there’s a word for that. but she’s a nice person #and she’s helping people so I’m happy to donate a prize for the event

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imagine-lcorp · 6 months

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Imagine L-Corp Masterlist (cont.)

A/N: This is the post where you will find the rest of fics, due to Tumblr's new formatting I cannot put it all in the same post, but here it is, I hope you don't have trouble finding what you need. Last Updated: Dec 26, 2023

Request // One Shots & Series // All Hallows

One Shots

"Where Angels Cry, Demons Dance"- Demon R

"To Feel Again"- Frankenstein R

"In Memoriam" - Ghost R

"No Rest for the Wicked" - Witch R

"A Lucky Shot" - Photographer R

"One Full Moon is not Enough" -Werewolf R

“The Song of the Sea” - Siren R

“Cosa Nostra” - R/Mob AU

"Folie à Deux" - Killer R

“Between Two Lungs” - R/Hanahaki AU

Alternative Endigs:

i love you, i love you, i love you...

not as bad as it could be...

it breaks and breaks and breaks...

“Trades With The Devil” - Demon R

"No Light, No Light" - Agent R/Red K Supergirl

"You Make a Fool of Death with Your Beauty" - Grim Reaper R

"Falling" - R/Succubus Lena

Dating Lena Luthor...

"Being from the Fifth Dimension and Dating Lena Luthor" - Alien Fifth Dimension R

"Being a Speedster and Dating Lena Luthor Would Include" - Speedster M!R

Series

“To Be a Hero” - Meta-Human Daughter R - Full Text

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

"Mustang Ride”- Shapeshifter R -(WIP)

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Part V

Part VI

Part VII

Part VIII

Part IX

Part X

Part XI

Part XII

"A Step Into the Light" - Vampire R - Full Text

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Part V

"Patient Zero" - Zombie R - Full Text

Part I

Part II

Part III

"Perfect Sense" - Shapeshifter R (A/B/O Dynamics) - Full Text

Part I

"Bullet For My Valentine" - R/John Wick AU - Full Text

Part I

#lena luthor #lena luthor imagine #lena luthor x reader #lena x reader #lena luthor x you #lena luthor imagines #one shot #series #mustang ride #bullet for my valentine #perfect sense #patient zero #a step into the light #to be a hero #imagine lcorp masterlist #masterlist

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tribblesoup · 2 months

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Tuvok

#tuvok #star trek voyager #tim russ #trekcore #screencaps #borg #unimatrix zero #uss excelsior #tos #uniform #vulcan #maquis #the killing game #suit #1940s #one small step #flashback #dress uniform

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front-facing-pokemon · 11 months

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#shuppet #tongue number twoooo here we go posting for tongue number twoooo please step forward all tongue fans #next up we have shuppet‚ the little guy with a spike on their head for some reason and no legs‚ who has a hUuuuuUUuuuUge tongue!#and they like to make fun of you and stick it out and you like mmmneeeeeehhh #i'm not sure why it shows up in their model but whatever. this is their T-pose. says a lot about them i suppose. they're a little pranxter…#i wonder what's under there. if you remove the cloak. i guess it's nothing because they like. Are the cloak but is it like a mimikyū thing #i doubt it. it's probably just unremovable. inherently part of the pokémon. since their eyes are on it. and their tongue #anyway shoutouts to the shuppet from team ebony who wants to go to zero isle and find the golden apple with that murkrow #probably no one else remembered them but i did. idk if i talked about them on the murkrow post but i'm doing it again if i didn't

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123pixieaod · 10 months

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Inspired by this godly post which unlocked a part of my brain I didn't know existed, and solidly gave me complete and utterly brainrot until I wrote something

A thousand thanks to Lily for her wonderful help :))

"Does Kelly not mind you spending all your time with me?" Daniel asks, because she's Daniel and once she's thought something she can't keep her fucking mouth shut, even if she knows it's trouble.

Max looks up, pausing his set of weights, and blinks at her. Daniel feels her cheeks warm. One day, that mouth of yours will run you straight into trouble, young lady, her mum used to tell her, voice firm. Good girls know when to keep quiet. Daniel used to just laugh at the warning. Her laugh is loud and the opposite of quiet, but she used to know that everyone always loved her laugh.

"No," Max says after a beat and then continues lifting. Daniel hates the way her gaze tracks over him, lingering on the movement of his muscles, the ease with which he lifts the weight. Tawny hair brushed out of his eyes, cheeks dusted warm from the exertion. "Of course not."

"Why of course not?" Daniel asks. She wants to sew her mouth shut. This time, Max didn't look over as he answers.

"Kelly's very secure, she's not like other girls. And besides, she knows you."

It's strange. When Daniel was seven and Michelle eleven, they'd gone rock pool fishing. Michelle had been crouched over a shallow pool of water, her finger delicately brushing the tentacles of the anemone. Daniel had been scaling the rocks, wanting steeper, taller, more.

She'd found the shark first, nestled high at between the rocks, and for a beat she hadn't known what she was looking at. Just details, but nothing collective. Rotting smell. Shrivelled holes where eyes should be. Scales of silver lightning. Rubbery fish picked clean. The flash of bone, pearl white.

Then she realised what she was staring at, and screamed. Her father held her while her mother scolded her. I told you not to go climbing! It's too dangerous, Daniel. Why can't you just be good like your sister and stay by the shallow pools?

And then, later, ice cream. Her dad, beside her, explaining the horror away.

It's just nature, Dani. The waves wash them up, and they get stuck there. They can't get back to the sea, and then the sun dries them out.

They drown on air, Michelle helpfully pointed out, her feet kicking happily as she licked her 99. Daniel just just nodded, ice cream untouched. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the sunken holes, the rotting flesh.

She hasn't thought about that moment for years, but suddenly it washes back over her. She feels simultaneously both. The child, staring at the carcass, frozen in shock. The shark, burning up in the sun, chocking on air.

"What does that mean?" She asks, and somehow her voice is normal, is fine. She's fine. She's not a girl or a shark. She's stupid and a fool and a gawky, ugly idiot, but she's fine.

Max manages to shrug, even with the 50kg weights. "You know. Just that Kelly knows you. She knows what you're like. And she knows me too, of course."

Daniel swallows. She nods. She hates everything about herself.

"That's sexist," she forces herself to say lightly because if the silence stretches anymore, Max might notice and set his weights down and look at her, and Daniel can't bear that. She doesn't want his eyes on her, taking in every blemish and imperfection. The boyish, ratty clothes she works out in and her curls gone frizzy with sweat and her inked skin, so different to Max and Kelly's pale, perfect complexions.

"What's sexist?"

"Saying she's not like other girls," Daniel tells him, setting down the weights she been doing. Instead, she goes to grab the skipping rope, just for something to do.

Max laughs. Daniel's glad she's turned away. Her cheeks are burning again.

"It's the truth. You, of course, Daniel, are not like other girls either." He says it lightly and ends with a chuckle, as if it's all just a joke. Daniel drags a sweaty hand over her cheeks. Burning, burning, burning.

Apparently, in Max's mind, she and Kelly are the same; both not like other girls. Kelly, with her faultless makeup and wonderful daughter and classy dresses and perfect feminity. One end of the scale. Daniel, the other. Barely even considered "a girl." Always one of the boys, only woman in f1 for a reason.

"Thanks," Daniel says. She wants to make it sound humorous, like she's in on the joke too. Instead, it's too cold; muttered as if she actually gave two shits about the conversation anyway. She has an F1 season to prepare for, she's too busy to care about stupid shit like this.

There's a beat of silence as Daniel stretches out the rope, feeling the plastic flex and give. Then, Max exhaling, the gentle bump of his weights against the floor, the workout bench shifting as his centre of gravity changes. Daniel keeps her back to him, ignoring it all.

"I did not mean it as insult," Max finally says, stubborn. Daniel forces a laugh, turning to give him a smile, all teeth.

"Of course not Maxy. I get that." Voice light and blithe. One of the boys.

She thinks he'll drop it, but instead, his frown only grows. Pinched brows, thin lips, cheeks growing blotchy. Blue eyes regard her, intense and unyielding. She burns from the inside out.

"I've upset you," he says, in that blunt, genuine way only he can do. Daniel barks out another laugh.

"Don't be stupid. You're not important enough to ever be able to get under my skin." She gives him another smile with only teeth. She feels insane. Her mother tells her good girls stay quiet.

"I'm sorry," he tries again, growing frustrated now, "I did not mean -"

"I told you, you didn't upset me," she drops the skipping rope without actually using it. "Anyway, I'm bored. Wanna get lunch now? Or are you still trying to pump those muscle with more testosterone?"

Max gives her one last, searching look before standing. They're almost the same height. She wants to shrink to nothing.

"That is not how testosterone works, Daniel," he says with the air of an overworked teacher. He looks at her with a smile, uncertain but genuine. She laughs, allowing him to move the conversation on.

She walks out of the gym first but holds the door for him. He grins, relieved. His fingers skim hers as he takes it and she lets go. A chill runs through her. Cold like scales, cold like ice cream untouched.

Follow up here!

#whole lot of internalised misogyny to unpack here #in my head Daniel is looking like Tash Sultana in the music video for “Jungle”#Max just meaning :))) Kelly knows you and she knows me :))) and she knows we are both two good people who would not cheat :)))#while Daniel just going into an existential crisis of #:((( Kelly knows Max and I :((( and I am zero threat to her because I must be utterly undesirable :((( and not Max's type at all :(((#maxiel #girl!Daniel #for the first time ever lol #my fic #ending involves the tension between them growing and growing #and Kelly watches them share a podium and sees the way Max wraps his arm around Daniel's shoulder and hugs her tightly #and the way Daniel laughs so happily and loudly everyone can hear her #and suddenly Kelly realises she had been wrong and Daniel was a threat #and basically gives Max an ultimate to choose one of them and stop all contact with the other #somehow Daniel finds out and just locks herself away from the world during summer break because it's not even a question who max will pick #and their story ends with Max knocking on her door with looking annoyed with a bunch of drooping flowers #and before Daniel can even say anything he's stepping into her apartment and getting a vase from her cupboard #while complaining about how he ordered the flowers that morning but the florist fucked up his order and of course the flourists in the #Netherlands are much better and soon he will take Daniel there and pick proper flowers like tulips for her #she stares at him in pure disbelief and then starts to laugh. and Max looks over and laughs too and they're still smiling when they kiss #:)))))#apologies but I'm a sucker for a soppy cliched ending lol

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ryqoshay · 2 years

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Unstable World: Temporary Respite

Flagship: YohaRiko Vanguard Ships: none that are important Words: ~2.4k Rating: T? Fandom: Love Live Sunshine, Love Live, Love Live Nijigasaki AU: A dimension other than ours Time Frame: ??? Event: step! zero to one! Event Source: Idol Fanfic Heaven channel on Discord Content Warnings: Depictions of War, Fantasy Violence

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Author’s Note: First chapter of two that I’m posting today, so please be sure to read both in the correct order to avoid confusion.

Summary: The aftermath of a devastating battle

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Riko opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling.

She was in her room, in her bed. Yet she shifted uncomfortably.

It was not all that uncommon for her clingy wife to pull her into an awkward position in the middle of the night with her nearly endless desire for the comfort of contact. Usually, Riko would wake up just enough to adjust her position, but when she didn’t, it sometimes resulted with her waking up to a pinched nerve or sore spot or whatever.

Of course, Riko couldn’t really blame her wife, as she herself very much enjoyed cuddling as well. Behind closed doors. In the privacy of their room. Not out and about where they were supposed to be the highest leaders in the Empire. And certainly not places like on the bridge in the middle of battle.

…

Battle. Bridge. Empire… Memories flooded Riko’s mind.

“Yocchan!” she cried, twisting to the side where her wife usually slept.

But Yoshiko wasn’t there.

In all of the time they had been together, Yoshiko had never awakened before Riko, regularly whining about wanting to sleep in later and cuddle more. Occasionally, Yoshiko had awakened in the middle of the night after a nightmare about her time in Paragon captivity, but that was different.

A knock at the door startled Riko out of her panic. Was that Yoshiko? Wait, no, why would her wife knock?

“Sakurauchi-san?” Riko recognized the voice of their chief medical officer. “It seems you are awake, so I am coming in.”

“Yes, come in.”

The door opened and the medical alchemist stepped in. “It is good to see you awake, Ma’am.” She said with a bow.

Riko decided to eschew her own formalities as there were more pressing issues. “Have you seen my wife? Where is Yocchan?”

Nakamura took an uneasy breath. “Emperor Tsushima is… under surveillance.”

“What?”

Nakamura shook her head. “I’m sorry, that was a poor word choice. We are monitoring her condition.”

“Is she alright?”

“We… we’re not sure, to be honest.”

“What do you mean? Let me see her.” Riko started to get out of bed.

“There will be time for that later.” Nakamura placed a hand on Riko’s shoulder. “Right now, I need to make sure you’re alright.”

“I’m fine.” Riko insisted.

“You’ve been asleep for almost two days.”

“What… I… I don’t care, I need to see Yocchan.”

“Sakurauchi-san, please.” Nakamura looked like she was aiming to place her other hand on Riko’s other shoulder, but instead, diverted down to her waist.

For some reason, the movement struck Riko as strange, and she followed Nakamura’s hand with her gaze.

Wait… Where was her arm? Her arm was… gone? Was that why she had been unable to reach out to Yoshiko as she fell? Had that kraken thing tried to attack her? Or had it been aiming at Yoshiko?

“Riko-chan, you’re alright!” a relieved voice came from the doorway.

Riko looked past Nakamura. “Hanamaru-chan? What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to ask your permission to give you this, zura.” The Master Alchemist held up what looked like a metal arm.

“What?”

“First of its kind.” Hanamaru stated proudly. “The URS has been making stuff like this for a little while, but with reverse engineered Paragon tech. Instead, Maru and her team built on our battle mech tech to make a more compact, less weaponized, utilitarian version. Also, it is able to be controlled directly, zura!” She pointed to what looked like wires protruding from within the shoulder section.

Riko looked again to where her arm should have been. “Alright.” She said after a moment of consideration. “Thank you, Hanamaru-chan.”

“Great.” Hanamaru smiled. “Then, let’s…”

“But I need to see Yocchan first.”

“Alright.”

“Kunikida-san.” Nakamura protested.

“I’m going.” Riko stated.

Nakamura sighed. “Fine, but at least take this.” She produced a small vial from her coat and removed the cork.

Riko accepted and downed the rejuvenating liquid. “Thank you.”

“Let’s get you changed. You’re not going out to sea like that.”

“Out to sea?” Riko repeated. “Why is Yocchan out at sea?”

“I’ll explain on the way.” Hanamaru offered. “We’ll take my rotorblade.”

Not more than fifteen minutes later, Riko was accepting Hanamaru’s help climbing into the passenger seat of the artificer’s aircraft.

“So,” Riko said, after turning on her communication device “please explain to me why our empire’s leader is being monitored out at sea.”

“Basically, it’s because of what she did at the end of the battle.” Hanamaru said as they took off. “Or rather, what she did to end the battle, zura.”

“And that is?”

“She got big. Like really big. Bigger than the Datenshi big.”

“What? How?”

“We don’t know, zura.”

“Can the Paragon do that?”

“We’ve never seen such abilities from them before.” Hanamaru shrugged. “I mean that squid thing was gigantic, but preliminary findings from the arm we recovered suggest it was already that size when the Paragon afflicted it.”

“Strange.”

“Zura.”

“But that doesn’t explain why she’s being kept out at sea…”

“Oh, you can see for yourself here, zura.” Hanamaru pulled a small device out of her pocket and handed it to Riko. “Miyashita-san recorded most of it.”

Riko examined the device for a moment before turning it on. A projection like those of the maps on the Datenshi was emitted, except much smaller and in realistic shapes and colors, not inked outlines.

“You figured that out fast, zura. I’m still amazed at what Rina-chan has been able to build without the need for magic or alchemy.”

Riko hummed neutrally as she focused on the projection. It seemed Ai started recording immediately upon arriving in the engagement zone. Riko fussed with the device a bit and was able to skip forward.

The tentacle appeared. Yoshiko saved Setsuna. Closer. The beak attacked once. Twice. There.

Riko winced as she saw Yoshiko and herself caught in the nigh invisible blast. Yoshiko caught Riko and hauled her back up by Prelude’s cockpit frame. She then timed a teleport to dodge another blast from the kraken, leaving no doubt that she or Riko were now its target. Or both.

Next, Phobetor returned and grabbed Prelude’s remaining arm in his jaws before flying back towards a listing Datenshi. Yoshiko turned her wrath on the behemoth. She probably wanted to attack at close range, but she had just ordered a barrage on her target, so it was being actively shelled. Thus, she resigned to adding as many daggers as she could manage to summon at once and adding them to the barrage.

“Yocchan, look out.” Riko couldn’t help murmuring, as though her wife could hear her.

From her vantage point, Yoshiko either could not see or hear the beak preparing its next attack or was too angry to be paying proper attention. And Riko watched helplessly as Yoshiko took the full brunt of the next blast.

Riko held her breath.

Wait… what was that?

Riko moved the device closer. Was that… an eye?

Where Yoshiko had been a moment ago, there was now a giant floating eye. And it was getting bigger. And bigger. And…

The kraken attacked again.

The eye did not dodge, nor even blink. But when the blast passed, shimmering gold began to form around the eye, extending vertically in both directions. Then two more eyes appeared, set in the expanding gold.

The chaos of battle began to subside as all combatants, enemy and ally alike, turned and stared in wonder as the gold curved to form a colossal ring, with eyes all along its rim.

As soon as the ring was complete, it duplicated. Then again. The trio of rings slowly begin to turn around a common center, where an even larger eye appeared. Finally, seven huge, white wings sprung forth from the strange entity. The entity that was… Yoshiko?

The central eye turned its gaze on the kraken beak for a long moment. The beak looked like it was about to prepare another attack when it suddenly burst into flames.

“Wha…?” Riko uttered. Did she miss the attack?

The flames grew in intensity, forming a massive pillar that engulfed one of the carriers and two accompanying destroyers.

The eye’s gaze shifted, and the third carrier ignited. The eye shifted again and…

The recording ended.

“Wait, what?” Riko nearly dropped the device. “Did Yocchan attack Ai-chan?”

“I think a ship or enemy behind her, zura.” Hanamaru proposed. “Miyashita-san said something about accidentally ending the recording as she was scared she had been attacked. But she’s fine.

“Yoshiko-chan destroyed the entire rest of the Paragon fleet without hurting any of our troops, even those engaged in close combat. Mari-chan said it was as though the flames refused to burn her, though I’m not sure if that meant she tried to touch them or something, zura.”

“Is that why Yocchan is way out here?” Riko asked. “Because she’s like… that?”

Hanamaru shook her head. “You’ll see in a moment.”

With that, Hanamaru took her rotorblade down to one of the Empire’s mobile sea bases. The floating platforms were most often used by fleets to resupply, refuel and relax between patrols, and thus were usually bustling with activity. But only the Charon was docked and Riko could see the rest of the fleet dispersed through the area surrounding the base.

“This way, zura.” Hanamaru beckoned Riko follow.

The two women made their way to the open area in the middle of the base, where a sizable tent had been set up.

“Ri… Grand Admiral.” You called as they neared. “You’re alright.”

“More or less.” Riko replied.

You cast a concerned glance toward Hanamaru, though Riko did not see what expression was returned.

“I’m here to see her.” Riko stated.

“Y-yes, of course.” You nodded. “Right this way.” She held open one of the door flaps.

Riko stepped through… And stopped.

“Yocchan?”

The tent was empty, save a bed in the middle. On it was a woman that could have possibly been Yoshiko, except her hair was white. Stark white. Whiter than the gown she was wearing, the sheets on which she lay, or the cat sleeping beside her. Nearly shimmering white.

“Uhm, be careful if you’re going to approach.” You’s voice came from outside the tent. “It… gets a little warm.”

Riko steeled her resolve and strode toward her wife. The warmth You mentioned was noticeable, but tolerable, right up to the last meter, when it increased sharply, causing Riko to pause again. But she clenched her jaw and took the final steps.

“Yocchan.” She called softly as she arrived at the side of the bed.

No response.

Well, the cat looked up at her.

“Phobetor? Is that you?”

“So it would seem.” Came the response.

“You look… different.”

“Indeed. But pay it no mind. You are here to see my master, are you not?”

“Right.” Riko nodded. “Yocchan.” She called again, this time leaning over so she could place a hand on her wife’s cheek.

Still no response.

A scene from story Riko loved flashed through her mind. No, that was a silly, overused romance trope. There was no way it would actually work… right? Besides, You and Hanamaru were watching. So was Phobetor, but she had long since become used to that.

…

Geez…

Riko leaned down even more and gently pressed her lips against Yoshiko’s.

As she was about to stand back up, arms suddenly wrapped around her, pulling her back down.

“Riri?” A meek voice asked.

“Yes, Yocchan, I’m here.”

Yoshiko’s words were muffled against Riko’s shoulder as she tightened her embrace. A moment later, Riko felt moisture seeping into her shirt.

“I was so scared.” Riko could barely understand Yoshiko. “I thought I had lost everyone. I thought I had lost… you… I thought…”

“No, you saved everyone.” Riko replied gently.

“… your arm…”

“I’m fine.” I think… “Hanamaru-chan invented a replacement for me.”

Riko wasn’t sure how long the two of them stayed like that, but eventually, Yoshiko let her arms relax. However, she whined when Riko decided to stand back up, staring at her with pleading golden eyes.

Wait, golden eyes?

“Yoshiko-chan, you’re finally awake!” Hanamaru’s voice interrupted Riko’s confusion.

Yoshiko quickly wiped her eyes on her sleeve, then sneered at it. “Why’d you guys dress me in white?”

“I thought it would suit your new look.” You offered, stepping up beside Hanamaru.

“New look?”

Hanamaru produced a mirror from her coat that by all rights should not have fit in it, except that those gathered knew she had lined its pockets with pocket dimensions.

“Wha…?” Yoshiko grabbed the mirror and stared into it. She continued to gape silently for a few more seconds, before pulling some of her hair to inspect closer as if to confirm the mirror wasn’t lying. Finally, she looked up at Riko.

Riko smiled. “You’re still my Yocchan, no matter how your appearance may have changed.”

That seemed to relieve Yoshiko significantly.

“Admiral Watanabe!” a voice called from the entry.

“Yes, Lieutenant?” You turned to address her subordinate.

“Admiral Matsuura just surfaced. The scavenger fleet she was guarding found something that she wants you to see.” He turned. “Ah, Kunikida-san, you’re here. You will definitely want to see this as well.”

“I’m coming too.” Yoshiko stated, swinging her bare legs off the side of the bed and hopping off, not seeming to be bothered by her bare feet on the deck.

Riko found herself wondering if the heat being given off by Yoshiko was the reason she didn’t mind being underdressed for the weather outside the tent.

“Riko-chan, Yoshiko-chan!” Kanan greeted from across the deck. “Good to see you both back on your feet. Hanamaru-chan, here.” She held out a strange contraption.

Hanamaru retrieved a lens from her coat, one Riko knew had dozens more settings than the one installed in Prelude, but were tuned for careful analysis rather than battlefield assistance.

“Zura…” Hanamaru murmured.

“What is it?” Yoshiko pressed.

“My initial readings identify this as the thing the Paragon used to open the rifts to our world.”

“Oh? Didn’t Rina get her hands on something similar and use it to make their RDD packs?”

Hanamaru shook her head. “This is different. This contains the dimensional coordinates of the location from which they attacked. And the ability to open a rift back.”

Yoshiko breathed sharply. “You’re saying this could allow us to take the fight to the Paragon?”

“I think so.”

The emperor’s eyes hardened. “Then that is exactly what we’re going to do.”

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Author’s Note Continued: I ended up going a bit over the hard cap for the event’s allowed word count, at least for my chosen tier. As such, I reviewed this chapter and the next to see what I could cut out to reduce count. Wow, I really have a habit of using two or three words when one will do. Que zura, zura, I guess that’s just my style.

#YohaRiko #Sakurauchi Riko #Tsushima Yohane #Unstable World #step! zero to one!#Love Live Sunshine #fanfic #YoshiRiko #YohaRiri #Tsushima Yoshiko

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